Automatic plant waterer and fertilizing system

ABSTRACT

An automatic plant waterer and fertilizing system including a reservoir connected by a plurality of supply lines to a series of feeder lines, each feeder line associated with one of the plants, each feeder line being filled with a capillary feed material and having one end in contact with the water level in the supply line with the opposite end in contact with the adjacent soil about the plant for feeding the water directly thereto, each supply line being detachably attached to a main line by a coupling which automatically shuts off the flow to the supply line from the main line upon the coupling being detached therefrom such that a constant source of water is available to soak into the soil about the roots of the plant with the capillary action of the water enabling the plants to absorb as much as needed on a continuous level without the soil ever being flooded.

United States Patent 1191 Pacheco l l AUTOMATIC PLANT WATERER ANDFERTILIZING SYSTEM 1761 lnventnr: Manuel Pacheco, 8528 Pershing Rd.

Raytown. Mo. 64138 [22] Filed: Dec. 6. I973 21 App]. No.1 422,556

[52] US. Cl. 239/145; 222/64; 222/187;

239/450; 239/542; 251/1494; 251/149] [5 l] lnl. Cl. Alllg 27/00 [58!Field ol Search 239/44. 51. 67, 68. 145,

[ Apr. s, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2.082.029 6/1930Australia 239/200 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood. Jr. Assn-(an!E.raminerAndres Kashnikow Almmey. Agent, or FirmMarder| S. Gordon [57]ABSTRACT An automatic plant waterer and fertilizing system including areservoir connected by a plurality of supply lines to a series of feederlines. each feeder line associated with one of the plants. each feederline being filled with a capillary feed material and having one end incontact with the water level in the supply line with the opposite end incontact with the adjacent soil about the plant for feeding the waterdirectly thereto. each supply line being detachably attached to a mainline by a coupling which automatically shuts off the flow to the supplyline from the main line upon the coupling being detached therefrom suchthat a constant source of water is available In sunk into the suil aboutthe roots of the plant with the capillary action of the water enablingthe plants to absorb as much as needed on a continuous level without thesoil ever being flooded.

6 Claims. 10 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC PLANT WATERER AND FERTILIZINGSYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention r Thisinvention relates generally to automatic watering and fertilizingdevices and more particularly to a novel and improved automatic plant\vaterer and fertil izing system employing supply lines withinterconnected capillary feeder lines to provide a constant source ofmoisture to the roots ofa plant as the moisture is required by theplant's roots without ever flooding the surrounding soil.

2. Description of the Prior Art Automatic fertilizing and wateringsystems are well known in the art. all of such devices normallyemploying sprinkling systems set up above the ground and up erated.either manually or by automatic dev ices. to provide a predeterminedvolume of water over a predetermined area of the soil to be watered.with fertilizing being accomplished by the adding of water solublefertilizer to the water being supplied to the sprinklers for evendistribution over the sprinkled area.

However. such prior art devices suffer from many difficulties. amongwhich are the overflooding of the soil about the plants since the soilcan only absorb moisture at a predetermined rate; the providing ofmoisture to the plants only at preselected times such that the soil isnot always moist such that the roots ofthe plant may lack water atcertain times during the day between sprinkling intervals; they requireconstant maintenance and surveillance to assure the proper operation ofthe sprinklers and pressurized water system to assure that the pressureis at the required level to cover the preselected area to be sprinkled;and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention remedies and overcomesthe foregoing deficiencies and disadvantages of presently availa hlesprinkling and fertilizing systems by providing a novel watering andfertilizing system using capillary feed lines associated with eachindividual plant or each tightly grouped set of plants to enable theplants to absorb us much moisture as needed on a continuous levelwithout flooding the soil about the plants. and without ever deprivingthe plants of the necessary moisture at any time during the day.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improvedautomatic plant watering and fertilizing system in which moisture issupplied to vegetation growing soil by capillary action through acapillary water feeding medium. such as a feeder line having a fibrousmaterial like cotton rope disposed therein. or a porous material likepolyurethane foam therein.

A further feature ofthe present invention provides an automatic plantwaterer and fertilizing system which requires very little servicing andmaintenance and which is fully automatic in operation for themaintenance ofa soil moisture content as determined by the needs of theindividual plants such that each plant is provided with individualattention by the system on an automatic basis in order that each plantmay grow at its maximum potential.

The pro ision of an automatic plant waterer and fertilizing system. suchas briefly outlined above. and possessing the stated features andadvantages. constitutes the principal features and advantages of thepresent invention. The provision of an automatic plant waterer andfertilizing system which is relatively simple in its construction andwhich therefore may be readily manu' factored at a relatively low costand by simple manufac turing methods; one which is adaptable to providewater to a field otplants and which is readily enlargable to includefurther fields ofplants or may be readily reduced in size to attend to asmaller field of plants all without requiring excessive time or labor inmaking such changes; one which is rugged and durable in construction andwhich therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand manyyears of usage; and one which. otherwise. is well adapted to perform theservices required of it. are further desirable features which have beenborne in mind in the production and development of the presentinvention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course ofthe following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ln the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification. and in which like reference characters areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIC-v l is a perspective view ot'a first embodiment of the invention inits simplest form to provide water and fertilizer to a single set ofplants;

H6. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along Line Z-Z of FIG.1'.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view ofa second embodiment of the presentinvention showing the same used to water and fertilize a multiplicity ofplants on an individual basis;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along Line 4-4 of HO.3'.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the reservoirillustrating the water inlet thereinto and the switch adapted to controlthe level of the water in the reservoir:

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 3'.

HO. 7 is a third embodiment of the present invention wherein the supplyline and feeder lines are elevated rather than lying along the ground asin the previous embodiments;

Fit]. 8 is a side elcvational view of the coupling used forinterconnecting the supply line to the main line:

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the coupling of FIG. 8broken away to illustrate the internal workings thereof; and

FIG. I0 is an exploded perspective view of the valve mechanismassociated with the main line coupling portion of the coupling of FlGv8.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingsin detail and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 inclusive :1 firstpreferred form of an automatic plant waterer and fertilizing systemembodying the invention is designated in its entirely by the referencenumeral [0 and is comprised of a reservoir ll having a compartment l2therein containing a level of water I}. the reservoir being connected bya tube l4 to the inlet end of a valve 15 having an adjusting handle 16associated therewith. the outlet end [7 of the valve connected by aflexible or rigid tubing l8 to the area designated generally byreference numeral [9 which consists of a plurality of closely groupedplants 20. the end 21 of tube 18 being in contact with the soil 19 as toeither contacting the top level thereof or being depressed slightly intothe soil. Extending 'through tube 18 is a capillary feed material 12which acts as a porous wick and which may be funded ofany con enientporous fibrous material. such as a cotton rope material or the like ormay be filled with a polyurethane foam which is mildew resistant andwould therefore most likely last longer than a fibrous filling.

In operation. the reservoir ll is filled with water l3 and. if desired.a water soluble fertilizing chemical 23. the level of the reservoirbeing higher than the level of the remaining portions ofthe system sothat water flows under the pressure head created by the height of waterin the reservoir through the interconnected tubes 14 and 18 to the soilarea 19, the valves is controlling the water passing therethrough shouldit for any reason by desired to totally turn off the water to the Soilarea 19, otherwise it is to be understood that the valve would beretained in the fully open position and that the capillary material 22having one end 24 thereof in Contact with the soil area [9 would permitthe water [3 carrying the water soluble chemical 23 through the systemand into the soil area 19 to enable the plants to absorb as muchmoisture as needed on a continuous level with the soil area about theplants never being flooded.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6 and 8 to H] of the drawings there isillustrated a second preferred embodiment of the invention along withcomponents of the system therefor. the system designated generally byreference numeral and comprising a water inlet pipe 3| connected to anelectrically driven pump 32 which is connected to a water delivery pipe33 which in turn discharges the water into chamber 34 in reservoir 35,there being mounted along a side wall of the reservoir an electricalswitch device 36 which is suitably connected in the electrical circuitof pump 32 in a manner to shut off the pump when the level 37 of thewater 38 in the reservoir reaches the level of the switch. thisdctermining the desired level of operation for the reservoir. The bottomof compartment 34 is provided with a tube projecting outwardly therefromand terminating in a coupling 40. the details of which will be betterdescribed with later reference to FIGS. 8-10 inclusive. the outlet endof the coupling 40 being connected to a supply line 36 having a seriesof openings 37 spaced at intervals thetealong. each opening 37 having acylindrical flexible hollow open ended bushing inserted thcrcinto andforming a seal about the outer peripheral edges thereof with the Opening37, the inner bore 39 of each bushing 38 adapted to receive therein oneend 41 ofa tubular feeder line 42 which extends outwardly therefrom andterminates at end 43 which is' disposed in contact with the soil area 44about the individual plant 45 to be watered thereby. or terminatingamongst a group of plants to be watered thereby. The feeder lines 42each includes a capillary feed material 46 extending completelytherethrough and terminating at one end in contact with the water insidethe supply line 36 with the opposite end being in contact with the soilarea 44 to be watered. such that the capillary action of the water inthe porous wick like capillary feed material 46 enables the plants 45 toabsorb as much moisture as needed on a continuous level Without the soilarea 44 ever being flooded or an oversurplus of water being delivered tothe plants.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 through [0 inclusive. the details of thecoupling 40 are illustrated with such cou pling being used tointerconnect the supply tubing 36 to the main line 35'. The supply line36 terminates at end 51 in a hollow cylindrical member 52 having aninternally threaded bore 53 extending therethrough and tennittating atbottom surface 54. the re being disposed a resilient washer member 55 injuxtaposition with the bottom surface 54 and extending about thecircumfe ral edges thereof adjacent threads 53 and extending a slightdistance outwardly from the bottom surface 54. A disc shaped plate 56 issecured in cylindrical member 52 in axial alignment with fluidpassageway 57 in supply tubing 36, the plate 56 provided with amultiplicity of apertures 58 extending transversely therethroughinterconnecting the opposite face surfaces of the disc.

The main line 35' is provided at end 61 with a cylir|- drical hollowopen ended body member 62 having exterior screw threads 63 formed aboutthe circumference thereof adjacent the forwardmost end 64, a circulardisc member 65 extending normal to the axis of cylinder member 62between the end surfaces 64 and having a central aperture 66 extendingaxially therethrough. the central aperture being surrounded by aplurality of openings 67 extending thetethtoughr A valve member 68 isdisposed concentric with disc 65 between the disc and main line tubing35' and has a front surface 69 and a back surface 70. the front surfacehaving axially projecting outwardly therefrom a cylindrical actuatingmember 71 of a diameter adapted to be slidingly received in opening 66in disc 65. The peripheral edges 72 ofthe valve 68 are provided with aplurality of semicircular recesses 73 thereabout. these recessesoriented so as not to come into contact with the areas ofopening 67 indisc 65 when the face 69 of valve 68 is placed in juxtaposition with thedisc 65 so as to close all of the openings 67 and 66. The valve 68 isurged by spring 75 in the direction to engage with disc 65. the spring75 interposed between the back surface ofthe valve 68 at one end. andthe bottom surface 76 of the cylindrical member 62 at the opposite end.

In operation. when the supply line 36 is not connected to the main line35'. then valve 68 is in juxtaposition with disc 65 sealing in awatertight manner the passage 77 in the main line. When it is desired toattach supply line 36 to the main line 35'. threads 63 are threadedlyengaged by threads 53 with the actuating cylinder 71 engaging disc 56 toeffect the axial inward movement ofthe valve 68 away from the disc 65 tothus permit water to flow through interconnected passageway 77.semi-circular recesses 73, openings 67 and 66, apertures 58, andpassageway 57 to thus provide water into the supply line 36 to directthe same to the feeder lines 42. Upon unthreading the supply line 36from the main line 35' the spring urges the valve 68 into engagementwith disc 65 to again seal oil the main line water passageway 77. Thus.no exterior valves or the like are required with it being possible tolay out a system initially to handle many different fields. such fieldsperhaps planted with rotating crops so that all fields may not be in useat the same time. with an individual rapidly attaching supply lines tothe main line by the coupling 40 where plants have been planted. anddecoupling supply lines from the main line where plants have alreadybeen harvested so that no water is wasted.

such coupling and uncoupling being accomplished without requiringseparate expensive valve devices which tend to clog or block and wouldthus require a high level of maintenance and repair.

Referring now to FIG. 7 there is illustrated a third preferredembodiment of the system of the present invention which is substantiallyidentical to the second embodiment previously described except that thesupply line is disposed in an elevated position above the plants withthe feeder lines leading downwardly from the supply line to the soilabout the plants. there being used a pump to maintain a supply of waterin the elevated supply line.

As seen in FIG. 7 there is provided a water inlet pipe 81 having adischarge end 82 for discharging into the water containing compartment83 of a reservoir 84. there hing a pump 85 operatively associated withthe reservoir and connected to main line 86 which extends along aplurality of supply lines 87. it being understood that forsimplification only a single supply line is shown in FIG. 7. theconnection between the main line and supply line being made by coupling40 in the manner as previously described. The supply line 87 ismaintained at the desired elevation by pipe supporting posts 88 spacedtherealong and having one end supponing the supply line with theopposite end projecting into the soil to form a rigid supply linesupporting post. Disposed along the supply line 87 are a series ofopenings 37' each having one end of a feeder line 42' connected theretoin a fluid tight manner in the same way as previously described namely.through use of a resilient cylin dricsl bushing 38'. with the feederlines projecting outwardly from the supply line to terminate at ends 43'contacting the soil 44' about the plant 45 to be watered and fertilized.it being noticed that the top end of each of the feeder lines 42 isarcustely curved upward a distance above the level of the supply line 87so as to prevent any flow by gravity through the feeder lines from thesupply lines. As previously described with regard to the earlierembodiments. the feed lines 42' are each provided with a capillary feedmaterial extending completely therethrough and in contact at one endwith the water in the supply line 87 with the opposite end in contactwith the soil 44 to provide. through capillary action. water to the soilenabling the plants to absorb as much moisture as needed on a continuouslevel with no flooding of the soil about the plant.

There is thus provided an improved watering and fertilizing system forplants which wastes no water. which delivers water only to the selectedareas and then only at the rate as needed by the plant to absorb suchmolature on a continuous level. the roots of the plant controlling therate of moisture to be delivered and ab sorbed thereby. and with nowater being wasted on soil between the plants and having no plantsgrowing thus assisting in the minimizing of weeds and other undesirablegrowth between the plants due to lack of moisture thereto.

it is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same. andthat this invention is not to 4: limited to the exact arrangement ofparts shown it the accompanying drawings or described in thisspecification as various changes in the details of construction as toshape. size. and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. the scope of the novelconcepts thereof. or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

I claim:

l. An automatic plant waterer and fertilizing system comprising areservoir adapted to contain a level of water therein. a main tubinghaving one end connected to the reservoir to receive water therefromwith the opposite end projecting outwardly therefrom. a feeder tubinghaving one end operatively associated with the main tubing to receive asupply of water therethrough with the opposite end adapted to be placedin contact with the soil about the roots of a plant to be watered. asupply tubing interconnecting the main tubing and the feeder tubing. thesupply tubing having a plurality of openings extending thercalong witheach opening adapted to receive one end of an associated feeder tubingto supply water thereto from the supply tubing. each supply tubingopening having a cylindrical hollow open ended bushing mounted theretoand in sealing engagement therewith. the end of the feeder tubingadapted to be connected to the supply tubing being insorted into thehollow opening of the bushing in a water tight sealing manner. a watercapillary feed material extending completely through the feeder tubingand having one end in contact with the supply of water to the feedertubing and having the opposite end in contact with the soil area to bewatered thus providing a water capillary feed contact with the soiladjacent the plant such that the water delivered to the soil bycapillary action enables the plant to absorb as much moisture as neededon a continuous level without flooding of the soil about the plant. acoupling detachably attaching the supply tubing to the main tubing, thecoupling automatically scaling the main tubing to prevent passage ofwater thereoutof when detached from the supply tubing. and the couplingautomatically unsettling the main tubing upon attachment to the supplytubing to provide for the passage of water therethrough.

1. The system as set forth in claim I wherein said coupling furthercomprises an open ended cylindrical body member connected at the end ofthe main tubing adjacent the supply tubing to be connected thereto. thecylindrical body member extending outwardly from the main tubeconcentric therewith and terminating at an outermost open end, acylindrical bore defined internally of the cylindrical body incommunication with the main tubing water passageway. threads extendingperipherally about the outer circumference of the body member adjacentthe open front end thereof. the open front end of the body member havinga substantially flat circular disc fixedly mounted thereto and extendingthereacross normal to the axis of the body member. the disc having acentral aperture and a plurality of openings disposed thereabout. avalve member having a substantially flat body surface with face and backsurfaces and of a diameter to be received in the cylindrical bore of thebody member. the body surface being disc shaped with a cylindricalplunger disposed centrally of the face surface thereof and projectingaxially outwardly thereof to extend through the central aperture of thedisc. a plurality of semi-circular recesses provided st spaced angularlocations about the peripheral edges of the body surface. the facesurface of the body surface adapted to overlie in juxtaposition with theinner surface of the disc with the plunger extendlng through the centralopening and the face surface sealing all ofthe openings in the disc. anda spring engaging the back surface of the body surface to bias the valvemember into sealing engagement with the disc, the sup ply tube havingconnected at the end thereof adjacent the main tube a hollow cylindricalmember formed concentric with the supply tube and extending outwardlytherefrom and terminating at an open end spaced outwardly therefrom. acylindrical bore in the supply tube body member of a diameter greaterthan the diameter of the main tube body member. said supply tubecylindrical bore being threaded about the interior surfaces thereof andadapted to threadedly engage the threads ofthe main tube body member. adisc member having perforations extending therethrough being disposed inthe supply tube body member and adapted to engage the activatingcylinder of the valve member upon the threaded engagement of the maintube body member into the supply tube body member whereby engagement ofthe activating cylinder with the disc effects the compression of thespring means and the separation of the valve member from the main tubedisc to permit the passage of water through the valve membersemi-circular recesses and the openings in the main tube disc and intothe supply tube.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a pump adaptedto supply a source of water to said reservoir, and a switch devicedisposed interiorly of said reservoir and adapted to selectivelyenergize and de-energize said pump to maintain a preselected level ofwater in said reservoir.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said supply tube isdisposed at a level spaced at selected distance from the ground, each ofsaid feeder tubes extending downwardly from the supply tube to contactthe soil about the plant to be watered. the end portion of each feedertube in engagement with the supply tube pro jecting a slight distanceupwardly of the level of the supply tube before bending downward tocontact the ground in a manner to prevent flow of water through the tubeunder the effect of gravity. and a pump adapted to maintain a watersupply in the supply tube from the reservoir.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cap illary feedmaterial comprises a fibrous material, such as a cotton rope wick.

6. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cap illary feedmaterial comprises mildew resistant polyurethane foam material.

i t 8 i

1. An automatic plant waterer and fertilizing system comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a level of water therein, a main tubing having one end connected to the reservoir to receive water therefrom with the opposite end projecting outwardly therefrom, a feeder tubing having one end operatively associated with the main tubing to receive a supply of water therethrough with the opposite end adapted to be placed in contact with the soil about the roots of a plant to be watered, a supply tubing interconnecting the main tubing and the feeder tubing, the supply tubing having a plurality of openings extending therealong with each opening adapted to receive one end of an associated feeder tubing to supply water thereto from the supply tubing, each supply tubing opening having a cylindrical hollow open ended bushing mounted thereto and in sealing engagement therewith, the end of the feeder tubing adapted to be connected to the supply tubing being inserted into the hollow opening of the bushing in a water tight sealing manner, a water capillary feed material extending completely through the feeder tubing and having one end in contact with the supply of water to the feeder tubing and having the opposite end in contact with the soil area to be watered thus providing a water capillary feed contact with the soil adjacent the plant such that the water delivered to the soil by capillary action enables the plant to absorb as much moisture as needed on a continuous level without flooding of the soil about the plant, a coupling detachably attaching the supply tubing to the main tubing, the coupling automatically sealing the main tubing to prevent passage of water thereoutof when detached from the supply tubing, and the coupling automatically unsealing the main tubing upon attachment to the supply tubing to provide for the passage of water therethrough.
 2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling further comprises an open ended cylindrical body member connected at the end of the main tubing adjacent the supply tubing to be connected thereto, the cylindrical body member extending outwardly from the main tube concentric therewith and terminating at an outermost open end, a cylindrical bore defined internally of the cylindrical body in communication with the main tubing water passageway, threads extending peripherally about the outer circumference of the body member adjacent the open front end thereof, the open front end of the body member having a substantially flat circular disc fixedly mounted thereto and extending thereacross normal to the axis of the body member, the disc having a central aperture and a plurality of openings disposed thereabout, a valve member having a substantially flat body surface with face and back surfaces and of a diameter to be received in the cylindrical bore of the body member, the body surface being disc shaped with a cylindrical plunger disposed centrally of the face surface thereof and projecting axially outwardly thereof to extend through the central aperture of the disc, a plurality of semi-circular recesses provided at spaced angular locations about the peripheral edges of the body surface, the face surface of the body surface adapted to overlie in juxtaposition with the inner surface of the disc with the plunger extending through the central opening and the face surface sealing all of the openings in the disc, and a spring engaging the back surface of the body surface to bias the valve member into sealing engagement with the disc, the supply tube having connected at the end thereof adjacent the main tube a hollow cylindrical member formed concentric with the supply tube and extending outwardly therefrom and terminating at an open end spaced outwardly therefrom, a cylindrical bore in the supply tube body member of a diameter greater than the diameter of the main tube body member, said supply tube cylindrical bore being threaded about the interior surfaces thereof and adapted to threadedly engage the threads of the main tube body member, a disc member having perforations extending therethrough being disposed in the supply tube body member and adapted to engage the activating cylinder of the valve member upon the threaded engagement of the main tube body member into the supply tube body member whereby engagement of the activating cylinder with the disc effects the compression of the spring means and the separation of the valve member from the main tube disc to permit the passage of water through the valve member semi-circular recesses and the openings in the main tube disc and into the supply tube.
 3. The system as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a pump adapted to supply a source of water to said reservoir, and a switch device disposed interiorly of said reservoir and adapted to selectively energize and de-energize said pump to maintain a preselected level of water in said reservoir.
 4. The system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said supply tube is disposed at a level spaced a selected distance from the ground, each of said feeder tubes extending downwardly from the supply tube to contact the soil about the plant to be watered, the end portion of each feeder tube in engagement with the supply tube projecting a slight distance upwardly of the level of the supply tube before bending downward to contact the ground in a manner to prevent flow of water through the tube under the effect of gravity, and a pump adapted to maintain a water supply in the supply tube from the reservoir.
 5. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said capillary feed material comprises a fibrous material, such as a cotton rope wick.
 6. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said capillary feed material comprises mildew resistant polyurethane foam material. 